Heddle frame



g- 1940- J. J. KAUFMANN HEDDLE FRAM E Filed April 19, 1939 INVENTOR: do'fznJzl'obfi ymflnrg Maid.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT QFFEQE to Steel Heddle Manufacturing Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 19, 1939, Serial No. 268,671

15 Claims.

My invention relates to heddle frames for looms, and it relates more particularly to improved means for strengthening and stiffening the top and bottom rails of the frame intermediate the ends thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved form of stay or brace for heddle frames, extending between the top and bottom rails of the frame, which will effectually prevent springing of the frame, thereby maintaining the parallelism of the heddle bars to insure freedom and easy play of the heddles on the heddle bars.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a heddle frame, an improved stay or brace which can be readily and conveniently mounted in and detached from the frame whereby certain of the heddles may, when required, be easily shifted from one side to the other of the stay rod, to the end that the same may at all times be properly disposed in the frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a heddle frame, an improved stay or brace comprising devices for supporting the heddle bars intermediate their ends and a stay rod coacting therewith, which is so constructed and arranged that the devices for supporting the heddle bars intermediate their ends will function for that purpose whether the stay rod proper is in place or removed from the frame.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which: I

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a heddle frame provided with stay or brace devices embodying the main features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary detail View, partly in elevation and partly in section, illustrating the manner of connecting the ends of the stay rod to the top and bottom rails of the frame by means of the devices for supporting the heddle bars intermediate their ends;

Fig. '3 is a transverse section of the structure shown in Fig. 2, certain parts being shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one end of the stay rod;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a slidable locking member employed in the device; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a bolt or pin member also forming part of the device.

It will, of course, be understood that the description and drawing herein contained are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, in the particular em- 5 bodiment of the invention therein shown, the heddle frame proper comprises top and bottom rails l 0, usually made of wood, connected at their respective ends by means of metallic end straps ll. Extending from end to end of the heddle 10 frame and arranged near the top and bottom rails thereof, in the usual manner, are the hede dle bars l2 upon which the heddles [3 are mounted and supported. The ends of the heddle bars l2 are mounted in the end straps H in the customary manner.

Mounted at suitable locations in the top and bottom rails, intermediate the ends thereof, are devices l5 for supporting the heddle bars. These devices preferably are, in many respects, similar to those shown in my previous Letters Patent No. 1,821,647, dated September 1, 1931.

Each of these devices I 5, as constructed for the purposes of the present invention, includes a bolt or pin member 20 having a shank 2|, the end of which is threaded as at 22 in a manner similar to that of an ordinary wood screw.

The bolt member 20 is also provided with a head portion 23 preferably made by flattening and spreading the material of the rod from which said member 20 is formed.

On each side of the flattened head portion 23 of the bolt member 20, there is mounted a plate 30. The plates may be secured to the head portion 23 of the bolt member 20 by means of rivets 3|, or by any other suitable fastening means.

Each of the plates 30 is provided with recesses 32 adapted to receive and support the heddle bars !2 when the same are mounted therein.

A slidable locking member is mounted on the bolt member 20, being so shaped as to provide a horizontal portion 4| having an aperture 42 complemental to the shank 2| of the bolt member 20. The slidable locking member 40 is also provided with vertical legs 43 straddling the head portion 23 of the bolt member 20.

The leg portions 43 of the slidable locking member 40 are guided between the plates 30 which are secured to the head portion 23 of the bolt member 20 as above described.

The outer end of each of the leg portions 43 is provided with a lip 44 which is adapted to extend over the outside of a heddle supporting Til bar I2 and lock the same in its recesses in the plates 30.

A coil spring is mounted on the shank 2| of the bolt member 29. The coil spring 58 bears at one end against the horizontal portion 4! of the slidable locking member 40 and bears at its other end against struck-up; portions 25 on the shank 2! of the bolt member 20.

The head portion 23 of the bolt member 20 does not extend the full length of the plate members 86, thereby leaving a space between said plate members, beyond the end or the head portion 23 of the bolt member 26, for a purpose to be presently explained. Extending across the space between the plates 30 is a pin or rivet 60, also for a purpose to be presently explained.

The stay rod proper comprises a thin fiat strip of metal TEL Each end of the stay rod IE2 is reduced in thickness as at '1'! corresponding to the size of the opening provided between the plates 30 which form part of the heddle bar supporting device hereinbefore described.

Each of the end portions of the stay rod, where the same are reduced in thickness as above mentioned, is provided with a recess '12 extending in from the side margin of said end portion H, said recess being complemental to the pin 60 and adapted to engage the same.

The recess '12 is so dimensioned with respect to the pin or rivet 69 as to engage the same snugly, so that the top and bottom rails will be held in fixed relation with respect to each other and Wear on the engaging parts will be reduced to a minimum.

Each end of the stay rod H3 is also provided with an extension I3 of a width corresponding to that of the head portion 23 of the bolt member 20. This extension '13 is adapted, when the stay rod is positioned with respect to the heddle bar supporting devices, to be disposed between the heddle bars i2, when the same are in position in said heddle bar supporting devices l5, and thereby said stay rod is normally held against disengagement from said heddle bar supporting devices.

When it is desired to mount the stay rod in place in the frame, one of the slidable locking members Gt is retracted, which will free the heddle bars from engagement by the lip portions 44 of said slidable locking member, One of the heddle bars may then be removed from its recess in the plates 38 a sufficient distance to permit the insertion of the end of the stay rod 1!] between the plates 30, the recess 12 engaging the pin or rivet Bil.

When the end of the stay rod is in position, the extension E3 on the end thereof Will be in alinement with the head portion 23 of the pin or bolt member 20. The heddle bar is now replaced in its recess in the plate members 30 and the slidable locking member is then permitted to return under the tension of the spring 50 which causes the heddle bars to be locked in position in the recess 32 of the plate members 3i]. When the heddle bars are so locked in position, they serve to confine the extension 73 on the end of the stay rod 70, and thereby prevent the disengagement of the end of the stay rod from the heddle bar supporting device l5.

After one end of the stay rod is thus brought into proper position with respect to one of the heddle bar supporting devices Hi, the other end of the stay rod is then brought into engagement with the other supporting device I5 in a similar manner.

By the foregoing arrangement, there is provided a simple, inexpensive and eificient device for staying or bracing the heddle frame intermediate its ends whereby the parallelism of the heddle supporting bars will be maintained at all times. The stay rods may be mounted and dismounted in a convenient and expeditious manner when required, and when removed from the frame entirely the heddle bar supporting devices which are mounted in the top and bottom rails will still function in their intended manner to support the heddle bars from the rails.

I claim:

1. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, a stay rod having its ends engaging portions of said heddle bar supporting means, said heddle supporting bars being in engagement with the ends of the stay rod, and means carried by the heddle bar supporting devices for maintaining the heddle supporting bars in locked position against said stay rod and said stay rod in locked position against said heddle bar supporting devices.

2. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, a stay rod having its ends engaging portions of said heddle bar supporting devices, projections carried by the ends of the stay rod extending behind heddle bars at each end of the stay rod whereby the ends of the stay rod are maintained in engagement with the heddle bar supporting devices and with said heddle supporting bars, and means carried by the heddle bar supporting devices for locking the heddle bars with respect to the end portions of the stay rod.

3. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, pins carried by said heddle bar supporting devices, a stay rod having its ends recessed to engage said pins, and means slidably mounted on the heddle bar supporting devices for maintaining the ends of the stay rod in locked engagement with the pins carried by the heddle bar supporting devices.

4. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, pins carried by said heddle bar supporting devices, a stay rod having its ends recessed to engage said pins, and means slidably mounted on the heddle bar supporting devices for locking the heddle bars with respect thereto, the stay rod having portions engaged by the heddle bars for maintaining the ends of the stay rod in locked engagement with the pins carried by the heddle bar supporting devices.

5. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, pins carried by said heddle bar supporting devices, a stay rod having its ends recessed to engage said pins, projections carried by the ends of the stay rod extending behind the heddle bars, said heddle supporting bars being in engagement with said projections, and means carried by the heddle bar supporting devices for locking the heddle bars with respect thereto whereby the ends of the stay rod are maintained in engagement with the pins carried by the heddle bar supporting devices.

6. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and having portions for engagement with the heddle supporting bars, and means carried by the heddle bar supporting devices for maintaining the heddle supporting bars in locked position against said stay rod and said stay rod in locked position against said heddle bar supporting devices.

7. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and having portions for engagement with the heddle supporting bars, and slidably mounted means carried by the heddle bar supporting devices for maintaining the heddle supporting bars in locked position against said stay rod and said stay rod in locked position against said heddle bar supporting devices.

8. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates, the plates of the heddle bar supporting devices being recessed to receive and support the heddle bars, means for locking the heddle bars in the recesses in the plates, and means coacting with a heddle bar for maintaining the ends of the stay rod in locked engagement with the heddle bar supporting devices.

9. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates, the plates of the heddle bar supporting devices being recessed to receive and support the heddle bars and each having a spring pressed slidabl-e locking member provided with portions adapted to overlap the heddle bars to lock the same in the recesses in the plates, and means coacting with a heddle bar for maintaining the ends of the stay rod in locked engagement with the heddle bar supporting devices.

10. In a heddle frame, having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates, and a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates, the plates of the heddle bar supporting devices being recessed to receive and support the heddle bars and each having a spring pressed slidable locking member provided with portions adapted to overlap the heddle bars to lock the same in the recesses in the plates, and each end of the stay rod having a projection extending behind a heddle bar whereby the ends of the stay rod are maintained in locked engagement with the heddle bar supporting devices.

11. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates and a pin extending across the space between said plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and at each end being recessed to engage the aforesaid pin, and means for positively looking the end portions of said stay rod in position between said plates.

12. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates and a pin extending across the space between said plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and at each end being recessed to engage the aforesaid pin, said heddle supporting bars being in engagement with said stay rod, and means for maintaining the ends of the stay rod with the recesses thereof in engagement with the aforesaid pins, said means including members slidable on said supporting devices for engagement with said heddle supporting bars.

13. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates and a pin extending across the space between said plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and at each end being recessed to engage the aforesaid pin, the plates of the heddle bar supporting devices being recessed to receive and support the heddle bars, means for locking the heddle bars in the recesses in the plates, and means coacting with a heddle bar for maintaining the endsof the stay rod with the recesses thereof in engagement with the aforesaid pins.

14. In a heddle frame having top and bottom rails and heddle supporting bars extending parallel thereto, heddle bar supporting devices mounted in the top and bottom rails intermediate the ends thereof, each of said heddle bar supporting devices including a pair of spaced plates and a pin extending across the space between said plates, a stay rod having each end adapted to be inserted in the space between said plates and at each end being recessed to engage the aforesaid pin, the plates of the heddle bar supporting devices being recessed to receive and support the heddle bars and each having a spring pressed slidable locking member provided with portions adapted to overlap the heddle bars to lock the same in the recesses in the plates, and means coacting with a heddle bar for maintaining the ends of the stay rod with the recesses thereof in'engagement with the aforesaid pins.

15. In a heddle frame having top and bottom iii and support the heddle bars and each having a spring pressed slidable locking miember provided with portions adapted to overlap the heddle bars to lock the same in the recesses in the plates, each end of the stay rod having a projection extending behind a heddle bar whereby the ends of the stay rod are maintained with the recesses thereof in engagement with the aforesaid pins.

JOHN JACOB KAUFMANN. 

